iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

We’re at $535 of our $5k goal. Hoping to make it to $1k (the cost of exhibit install) by the end of the month. Please share! #cdnhist #bcHist @bcma.bsky.social

073

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Travelling The Great Land Grab exhibit has costs – we hire an installer and rent a truck. Help us make it affordable and accessible to small venues! We have a goal of raising $5,000. You can donate on our CanadaHelps page and receive a tax receipt: Canadahelps.org/en/charities/vilocalhistory/

Graphic with white text on green background. An image in the centre shows a person interacting with an exhibit piece. “Help us raise $5,000 and keep the cost of hosting the exhibit low for Vancouver Island communities.”

088

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and a good day to reflect on the ways that colonization continues to impact Indigenous peoples. Take a moment to learn about the great land grab, and what it means for life on Vancouver Island #VILandGrab #cdnHist #bcHist youtu.be/xJ7P0rP95d8

youtu.be

The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab (Exhibit Trailer - English)

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

0116

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The story of the railway land grant is not just about forests - it’s about the financialization of forests; investment funds and pension plans (yours?) now profit from the great land grab youtube.com/shorts/Ja9p2... #VILandGrab

youtube.com

Forestry Becomes Financial | The Great Land Grab Exhibit

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

064

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

CHEK News @cheknews.ca · 24/09/2026

Irene Jackson reflects on the impact of internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War ahead of a monument unveiling. cheknews.ca/opinion-the-japanese-ca…

cheknews.ca

Opinion: The Japanese Canadian Monument

Irene Jackson reflects on the impact of internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War ahead of a monument unveiling.

042

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

youtube.com

Forestry Becomes Financial | The Great Land Grab Exhibit

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

064

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

In this interview now up on our YouTube channel, Professor Brian Thom from the University of Victoria introduces us to the historic E&N Railway land grant, what it means for today, and how maps and ideas of property can inform our understanding of the #VILandGrab. youtu.be/zyY4qWEHqnc #bcHist

youtu.be

The Great Land Grab Interviews: Professor Brian Thom

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

146

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

youtu.be

The Great Land Grab Interviews: Professor Brian Thom

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

146

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Toronto Archives @torontoarchives.cityof.toronto.ca · 14/09/2026

On Saturday, former Canadian Boxing Heavyweight Champion, George Chuvalo died. Famous for his two bouts against Muhammed Ali, Chuvalo was never knocked down in any of his 93 fights. The image is of a young Chuvalo, possibly taken in 1955, a year before he turned professional at the age of 18.

Photograph of George Chuvalo posing with fists raised. Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 2470.

091

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

🚨Attention educators! Consider teaching The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab. Our exhibit Learning Guide is available in English or French and links to the BC Curriculum for Social Studies 9, Socials 10, BC First Peoples 12, Social Justice 12, and Law Studies 12: TheGreatLandGrab.ca

thegreatlandgrab.ca

The Great Land Grab – Travelling Exhibit | Exposition itinérante

1117

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

thegreatlandgrab.ca

The Great Land Grab – Travelling Exhibit | Exposition itinérante

1117

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A very special Vancouver Island place! 📸 Item I-28388, BC Archives.

Black and white photo. A group of people stand around a sign in front of an old growth fir tree

010

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

ben bradley @benbradleyca.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

031

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Canadian Cultural Heritage Advocacy Committee @cchac.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Thank you for following! We are happy to meet you all! You can subscribe to our newsletter if you scroll down on our home page: heritageadvocacy.ca

heritageadvocacy.ca

CCHAC-CCDPC

Advocating for Canadian Cultural Heritage

062

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Hey #Cowichan, check out The Great Land Grab exhibit on now at the Duncan library @vilibrary.bsky.social!

052

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

CHEK News @cheknews.ca · 03/09/2026

C̓išaaʔatḥ (Teshaht) First Nation’s recent acquisition of nearly 40 acres from the Province of B.C. in Port Alberni marks “a significant moment of #landback for Tseshat,” according to an…

cheknews.ca

‘Significant moment’: Vancouver Island First Nation buys land from B.C. for housing

C̓išaaʔatḥ (Teshaht) First Nation’s recent acquisition of nearly 40 acres from the province of B.C. in Port Alberni marks “a significant moment of #landback for Tseshat,” according to an official.

073

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Jordanna George is a T’Sou-ke/ Ukrainian illustrator & comic artist whose work blends traditional forms with a non-traditional personal digital style. They illustrated the graphic-novel panels for The Great Land Grab exhibit. You can find out more on their website, JordannaGeorge.com #VILandGrab

052

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Kelly B @kellyblack.ca · 02/09/2026

“The bottom line here is that it’s not really about money because the money is small compared to something like the money put toward the [FIFA] World Cup,” said Black. “It’s really about a lack of vision and a lack of understanding about how heritage fits into our communities.” #bcpoli #yyj #cdnhist

12910

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Canadian Cultural Heritage Advocacy Committee @cchac.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

We are happy to join Bluesky! We are the Canadian Cultural Heritage Advocacy Committee. We are cultural heritage workers in Canada representing all sectors: museums, libraries, archives, galleries, genealogists, and historians. Our website: heritageadvocacy.ca

heritageadvocacy.ca

CCHAC-CCDPC

Advocating for Canadian Cultural Heritage

36618

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Hey #Cowichan, check out The Great Land Grab exhibit on now at the Duncan library @vilibrary.bsky.social!

052

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Thank you, Mike! Our first donation. Maybe you’ll be the second?

021

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Kelly B @kellyblack.ca · 25/08/2026

The demand for this exhibit has been significant, but the cost to host it can be a barrier for smaller community organizations. Please help us raise a few bucks by donating or sharing - especially if you believe in the power of public history! 😊🙏🏻 #cdnhist

11311

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

088

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

The next stop for The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab exhibit is Duncan! You can see the exhibit at the #Cowichan Branch of the @vilibrary.bsky.social beginning August 26th. Check it out with your friends and family, and let us know what you think! TheGreatLandGrab.ca #VILandGrab

Graphic with a green background and the outline of grabbing hands. “The great vancouver island land grab. Next stop: Duncan, BC. Cowichan Branch, VI regional library.”

087

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab explores the history and legacy of the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway land grant of the 1880s. This travelling exhibit looks at what happened, who was affected, and why the story still matters today #BCHistory #VancouverIsland youtu.be/xJ7P0rP95d8?...

youtu.be

The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab (Exhibit Trailer - English)

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

13418

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

087

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

While the Roadside Attraction bracket is fun, beneath it are interesting questions around tourism and geography that have been changing in recent decades. Here's my story on that, which required me to look like a goofball in several places for REASONS OF JOURNALISM

1737

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Mary Grace @emgeekay.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

The Canadian Cultural History Advocacy Committee is starting to collect stories about the importance of heritage institutions and the impacts of funding cuts. #archives #library 📚 #museums #galleries heritageadvocacy.ca/our-stories-...

heritageadvocacy.ca

Our stories/Nos histoires

Working on a multi-media production. Credit: Community Archives of Belleville and Hastings County. Travaux sur une production multimédia. Crédit : Archives communautaires de Belleville et du comté …

0139

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

NiCHE Canada @nichecanada.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

"It is more important than ever that it do so: having trafficked in timelessness for almost 150 years, Parks Canada in the future will need to be much more about change." - @alanmaceachern.bsky.social niche-canada.org/2026/03/16/i... #envhist #cdnhist #parkscanada #cdnpoli #canada #research

niche-canada.org

If Parks Canada's Library Goes Quiet

Parks Canada’s library closure reflects long institutional decline, threatening internal knowledge, research capacity, and the agency’s ability to document environmental change.

062

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Kelly B @kellyblack.ca · 05/08/2026

“The province is trapped in a cycle of offering low funding for fresh business plans every few years,” he said. “It’s a complete shame, and the people that lose out are British Columbians and visitors to Victoria.” www.timescolonist.com/local-news/p... #yyj #bchist #Cdnhist

timescolonist.com

Former operator not surprised by closure of Victoria's Point Ellice House

The province says it is taking over the site, whose doors will close to the public on Aug. 21, and “reviewing options for reopening.”

32211

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

"I really enjoyed the exhibit The Great Land Grab, especially the hands on graphics + video. More like this please"

140

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

We have been getting amazing feedback on The Great Land Grab exhibit from Nanaimo Harbourfront Library visitors! If you think this kind of work is worth supporting, please consider a donation through our CanadaHelps page! #VILandGrab #VancouverIsland #BCHistory www.canadahelps.org/en/charities...

010

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Sonja Boon @storiedselves.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Canadian arts and culture folks: the federal government has launched a (methodologically flawed) survey on "the Cultural Sector's readiness for Artificial Intelligence". If you're ready to resist or refuse genAI, here's your chance to let them know. pch.research-recherche.ca/f/s.aspx?lan...

pch.research-recherche.ca

National Survey on the Cultural Sector’s Readiness for Artificial Intelligence

22342348

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

"Canada promised British Columbia a coast to coast railway when it joined confederation." Learn more at the Great Vancouver Island Land Grab exhibition, on now. #VILandGrab #BCHistory youtube.com/shorts/x95lv...

youtube.com

In Exchange for a Railway | The Great Land Grab Exhibit

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

022

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

"Forests became financial assets. Large parcels were sold for real estate development, pushing the land even further from return to First Nations." The Great Vancouver Island Land Grab exhibit is on now until August at the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library #VILandGrab #VILHS youtube.com/shorts/Ja9p2...

youtube.com

Forestry Becomes Financial | The Great Land Grab Exhibit

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

032

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

“The bigger question that the exhibit asks is, ‘Where do you, the person viewing this exhibit, where do you stand now that you’ve learned some things about it?’” #VILandGrab #BCHistory thetyee.ca/News/2026/07...

thetyee.ca

The ‘Land Grab’ That Gave One-Quarter of Vancouver Island to a Rail Baron | The Tyee

A new exhibit spotlights the ‘grant’ made without First Nations’ consent 140 years ago.

142

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

youtube.com

Forestry Becomes Financial | The Great Land Grab Exhibit

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

032

Reposted by Vancouver Island Local History Society

Kelly B @kellyblack.ca · 23/06/2026

Thanks to CBC On the Island for having me on the show this morning to talk about TheGreatLandGrab.ca @vilocalhistory.bsky.social #cdnhist #bchist #yyj #VILandGrab www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

cbc.ca

3172

Vancouver Island Local History Society @vilocalhistory.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

"For the Hul'qumi'num people, access has been denied to these lands. These forestry companies put up steel gates so that you cannot enter those lands without their permission..." youtube.com/shorts/ig3jL... #VancouverIsland #VILHS #VILandGrab

youtube.com

Denied Access | The Great Land Grab Exhibit

YouTube video by Vancouver Island Local History Society

012